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The Big 4-0!

May 16, 2012The Big 4-0!1972 was a very good year for Napa wineries Clos du Val and Silver Oak

Passing a milestone 40th birthday can often trigger the birthday blues. But two iconic Napa wineries both born in 1972 — Clos du Val and Silver Oak — couldn’t be more tickled to celebrate 40 years of making wine.

When John Goelet founded Clos du Val, he wanted to make beautifully elegant, food-friendly and balanced wines with fine fruit from the heart of the Napa Valley. That same “philosofree” guides new winemaker Kristy Melton today and shows in their restrained CDV Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (Stag’s Leap District, CA) $38.

When Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer founded Silver Oak Cellars, they were thinking about cabernet sauvignon too. Even though cab-lovers collect their wines, Silver Oak’s Oakville and Alexander Valley wines are created to be enjoyable upon release.

To celebrate their 40th, Silver Oak has planned a cross-country road trip that takes a replica of their water tower — which graces the label and the front of the winery — on tour. Covering 12,000 miles in 60 days, Silver Oak is meeting wine fans around the country and photographing their iconic tower at American landmarks like Mount Rushmore and the St. Louis Arch. And they’ve even come up with a way to make turning 40 a bit sweeter: anyone who comes to the winery this year with a 1972 birth date will be treated to a free tasting.

What wine do you think is worthy of a 40th birthday celebration? Tell us below.